Today is my 2nd day on bupropion 150 sr for major depression. I've been depressed for 2 yrs after my dad's horrible death.The doc said that in a couple of days I could take a 2nd 150sr pill. I was tired before trying this AD, but now it's worse. I still take Klonopin 1 mg at nite to actually fall asleep. The SSRIs have stopped working for me. I really do feel hopeless. I don't understand why I'm taking something that is supposed to be energizing & I'm more tired. I don't know if the bupropion 150 xl would of been better. I cannot find a good psych on my insurance so I go to a GP.
Wellbutrin - Anybody ever feel tired rather than energized on bupropion 150 SR?
Question posted by wannabbetter on 22 Nov 2015
Last updated on 7 October 2020
11 Answers
Unicornmom1
19 July 2020
Get evaluated for ADHD or your dose is to high.
MischkaM
7 Oct 2020
What does ADHD have to do with feeling drowsy after taking the medication? Or can it make ADHD symptoms worse
WildcatVet
27 June 2020
WELLBUTRIN
Nervous System:
"Very common (10% or more of users): Sedation (up to 19.8%)"
CatChat
26 June 2020
I switched and started taking it at night. I sleep like a baby! Go figure. It was making me too tired during the day.
daffodil1
26 April 2020
I took Wellbutrin last summer for 6 weeks. I felt so badly I had to stop, I wanted to stop after the first month. I knew sometimes side effects get better if you give it time. Instead, it got much worse. I was sweaty, felt almost like a flu that wouldn't go away. I am over 50, female take Levothyroxine and have ADD. I looked it up and found out that people in this category should not take Wellbutrin.
cvoor
27 Dec 2019
Let go of the klonopin, take the Wellbutrin earlier and lower the dose to 150, then give it time.
Sunnysideup77
6 Aug 2018
I know this is an old thread but wanted to mention that, from my own experience and from reading other threads, fatigue on Wellbrutin seems to have something to do with taking SSRIs as well. Has anyone seen improvement after cutting out other medication entirely?
Le1
7 Oct 2018
Hello, I am taking bupropion 75 mg twice daily. I am not taking any SSRI's as they do cause extreme fatigue and sleepiness. I thought i'd briefly tried this before and did not have that side effect (only month). Well, this time I was given the XL twice daily and since it made me sleepy I went back to the immediate release, and it is still causing sleepiness. I has been a few weeks, but what I don't get is how this takes 6-8 weeks when we are working with norepinephrine and dopamine here. At any rate, although it is said to take time... does that include the side effect of sleepiness??
Buggs333
1 July 2018
Yes, I do. I take it two times a day and it does make me tired. When I was on 200 mgs a day, twice a day it made me too hyper and ancious. Sorry about the spelling. How do you feel about that? Are you pleased with your results?
HEMARO1969
30 June 2018
Hello to all the beautiful people on this forum!
During my 35 years of being intermitent with Wellbutrin XL I never had good results, it gave me psychotic episodes every time and made me very nervous and paranoid.
I have been under the care of at least 9 Pdocs. and multiple hospitalizations and could never tolerate the Wellbutrin XL in doses from 150mg, 300mg and 450mg.
Around 2 months ago I was put on Wellbutrin XL again starting with 150mg-450mg.
First it made me feel very hyper and since almost a month ago it has been the opposite.
I now take 450mg in the morning and 30 minutes after taking it, I have to go back to bed and have to sleep all day until evening and wake up very tired and irritable besides that I don't feel like eating at all.
I will see my Pdoc. within two days to look for other alternatives.
Please, don't get desperate, there's always a solution.
I bet there is a lot of people besides myself you can count on.
Blessings!!!
AngeLuvsU
10 Aug 2017
So I'm feeling much of the same things you experienced on your first week of wellbutrin. They increased my second week to 150mg xl twice daily. The fatigue and anxiety are worse. Question did you stay on wellbutrin? Did it get better?
chuck1957
23 Nov 2015
Sorry just wanted to add try and take this just as the doctor said, but if you still feel to tired try and wait a few days more before adding the other tablet. you are far from Hopeless and it is not uncommon to have some medications stop working on us.and once your on this regular at twice daily try not to miss any and take them about the same time 8 to 12 hours apart.
wannabbetter
25 Nov 2015
Thanks. I know I need to be more positive. My hair is falling out from the Klonopin & now seems to be worse w/the Wellbutrin. I'm a 60 yr old female who used to have a full head of hair & I'll probably need a wig soon. My constant anxiety is not helping the situation.
chuck1957
26 Nov 2015
That is for sure wierd how anxiety shows up in so many different was so you can't rule anything out. Hope it gets better my friend.
wannabbetter
26 Nov 2015
I wanted to give up this med today on day 6, but I'll try to take it awhile longer. Thx for responding. Prior, I took Celexa and the side effects weren't this bad.
Mbales1
22 Feb 2016
If it makes you sleepy try taking it at night. This medication affects me differently than my boyfriend. I have to take it in the morning and if he takes it he takes it at night. This post is a little late but I thought I'd share my experience.
wannabbetter
22 Feb 2016
Thanks. Are you on the generic 150 SR?
chuck1957
22 Feb 2016
Wannabe; I take the generic myself and the tired part wore out on me so I take my bupropion 150 sr at bedtime the sr is meant for 12 hours but I go to bed late and it works out fine for me most don't get tired from it but the medications work different with all of us because we metabolise things differently But at least, this medication does not cause all the side effects like some of the others I have taken. Best of luck.
chuck1957
22 Feb 2016
Also depending on what time of day you are taking it now you could try and take it just later in the day and see if it causes as much drowsiness you would be the best judge there but once you start to try and take it at the same time each day. And this well makes your system adjust to it better.
wannabbetter
22 Feb 2016
Thanks. I could try that & hope it works well w/my Klonopin.
chuck1957
23 Feb 2016
Yes, it is worth a try for a while and still lot of times these side effects and also the loss of hair do stop. for most people so try and not worry too much about these side effect. Keep at it.
Inactive
25 Feb 2016
Did someone here mention having hair loss from wellbutrin sr? Did I read that correctly?
wannabbetter
25 Feb 2016
Now I don't know what my hair loss is from... stress, Klonopin, or an AD. Thyroid is normal.
chuck1957
26 Feb 2016
G-MAC AND WANNFEEL; to both of you I was reading the other day about hair loss with both Bupropion and Klonopin and the good news is that it normally corrects itself and the thinning starts to fill back in. Minor you both look great now let's get to feeling better Chuck.TALK ABOUT HAIR LOSS..MY CHEMOTHERAPY I HAVE HARLEY ANY HAIR BUT THANK GOD IM IN REMISSION. ONE MONTH NOW. HUGS CHUCK1957.
chuck1957
26 Feb 2016
Wannabebetter; It could be the Thyroid too. But once it is regulated you should not have problems after a while try and not worry too much about it. This is reversible
wannabbetter
26 Feb 2016
Happy to hear that your chemo was successful.
Inactive
26 Feb 2016
Been keeping you in my prayers. "G"
Inactive
26 Feb 2016
"Chuck, that was my response to your comment. Glad the chemo is helping. Keeping you in my prayers. You've given so much support with all your comments in these support groups. Thanks! "G"
chuck1957
27 Feb 2016
G; Thanks a lot went in yesterday for more blood work won't know much. We'll sure be glad when more time between remission and hearing that I'm cancer free.Thanks a lot just doe's not help with the nerves that is for sure. And well be real happy when some of these side effects start to go away such as vision etc. Have a great day hope all is well. Thanks again means a lot. Chuck.
chuck1957
23 Nov 2015
wannabbetter; YOU WELL GET BETTER MY FRIEND this is all normal. When you first start this medication for the first week or two you feel the side effects and sometimes it even increases our symptoms.But don't worry they go away and at some point during this period you well start to feel somewhat better. But to reach the full benefit of this medication it takes the normal 6 to 8 weeks to reach the blood level needed. I know its hard but that is the way most of these medications work this is why we sometimes have to take a medication for this long and then have to have it changed. Did you just stop your other medication you were on because sometimes part of this can be withdrawals from the old one. Please try and be patient these take a while to kick in but many times we can start to feel better sooner. and the sr is easier on you than the xl to start so that is why the doctor picked this one I am guessing.
For what it is worth there are a lot of fantastic people here to help you get through this we are not doctors we are people just like you that have had problems or sucess with these medications.And problems we are always here for you for any questions please feel free to post again life can be good.hang in there and try to bear with the side effects.
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wellbutrin, depression, bupropion, major depressive disorder, death, pill
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